Break Out the Leis! Hula Girls Is Coming!

If you have some spare good karma lying around, you might want to send it on over to the good folks at VIZ Pictures. They’ve released a slew of fabulous Japanese films here in the States — Train Man: Densha Otoko, Ping Pong, Kamikaze Girls, and Linda, Linda, Linda — and according to Twitch, they’re set to release another one soon.

Lee Sang-il’s Hula Girls might have been the most commercial, mainstream film to play at TIFF ’06. Even so, it was an immensely enjoyable and satisfying film, transcending its otherwise-cliched plot with colorful characters, some truly fine melodrama, and a climax that, though you saw it coming a mile away, was nevertheless a delight (and a feast for the eyes).

But if you didn’t make it to Toronto last year, don’t worry. VIZ will be releasing Hula Girls to American theatres throughout the summer for a limited run. It’s already played several other festivals, such as Seattle’s, and will be rolling through New York and Chicago, to name a few cities. More screenings can be found be found on the film’s official American website.

Oh, and on a side note, that Twitch blurb that VIZ is using to promote Hula Girls? Yeah, it comes from my review.